The constant struggle for gender recognition is apparent through out history. A variety of past and present literary works show the continuing struggle, in such works as, The Canterbury Tales and The Bible (McCombs 281-2). Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales reveals his gender bias against women. For example, two women described in Chaucer's Prologue to the tales are the Nun and the Wife of Bath. People see the Nun as corrupt because she wears jewelry, a forbidden ornament for a nun. The Wife of Bath has gaps in her teeth, which denote that she is greedy, disrespectful, and deceitful (Chaucer 91-99). The Bible also shows bias towards women. Many scriptures reveal that women are inferior to man (McCombs 282). As presented in the following quote: "As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord..." (Luke 2:22). Modern day novelists also show bias towards women in their works. Toni Morrison's Beloved, M!
             aya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, and Zora Neale Hurson's Their Eyes Were Watching God, all show distressed and broken women who struggle against the bias. Another modern day novelist, Margaret Atwood has very strong beliefs in women's rights. Atwood's reputation comes from her presentation and view of women's issues in her many poems and books. The Handmaid's Tale is Atwood's first novel dominated by feminist concerns (Atwood 1-3). Also, critics see Atwood's earlier novel, Surfacing, as an example of a feminine journey (Masterpieces of Women's Literature 491). Margaret Atwood's two novels The Handmaid's Tale and Surfacing raise many issues about gender bias such as; women's reactions when not allowed to live as desired, women as the role of victims, and the value of the female in society.
             First of all, Atwood's novel The Handmaid's Tale shows the future in a horrible way in which women are there to make babies in a newly founded puritan...